Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-15


neYsop should on this account suspect that
would have held such confession ~
secret even when knew that there were
efforts ON foot TO save him from death was
70 me an infinite surprise. That would
have made me a practical enemy OF Justice.
No man shall commit 10 me bis la.less Sc
crets with the pledge on my part that VIII
Keep them. / could not allow this while
holding to the doctrines OF Bsptists.
riE PRISONERS BEARING.
Reporter: You were often with Clnye.
rius. How did he impress your was be
secreti,e and inaccessiblel
DIR. Hatcher: At frstI bad preponder.
ating suspicion Of his guilt and watched
him as closely as ! could. Sometimes |
fancied there was a crafty, farof, vacant
COX about him; but graduslIy Il disap.
peared. HIS talk with me became free and
cordial. and In my later interviews he was
open, simple, and natural.
Reporter: They say he was stolid and
unieelng. Is that soy
Dr. Hatcher: II was notso. He was not
noisy or eieryescent, hut he was notably
responsive 20 outward influences. Ne was
not emotional, but he was not without feel
ing. He did not often weep, though again
and again saw him In tears. There was
not touch OF frivolity IN his manner, but
on no human face bsye ever ssen more
real or contagious laugh than on his.
Reporter: Did he strike YOU sometimes,
Doctor, as a man who was playing p1tf
DR.. Hatcher: lie did not. His move
ments were bright, quick, and easy.
talked with him at one time and another
about almost every phase OF his trial and
bis prison life. ! asked him many ques-
tions, and some OF them very searching,
but never saw him halt, shuttle, or hesi-
tate, and In all my talks with him never
knew him 10 contradict himself. His con-
sistency was wonderful, and II he was am
actor bis art was transcendeut.
FORMING JUDGMENT.
Reporter: Much has been said about his
impurity and hypocrisy.
Dr. Hatcher: am not his defender and
do not claim to be an extraordinary reader
OF character. But | saw him IN bis sad
dest and frankost moments; saw him
many, many times, but IN the grace OF bis
manner, the purity OF bfS speech, and the
unstudied courtesies OF his bearing he was
wellnigh faultless. II since the day OF his
arrest he was ever guilty OF an unehaste
word, an unmsnly act, or luriug, iDde-
cent: look, | have not heard OF II. In his
prison his department not only command
ed respect, but 10 large extent disarmed
prejudice.
Reporter: Was the effect OF your asso-
citation with him TO increase or diminish
your suspicion Of his guilts'
DIR. Hatcher: am not very impressible,
and men have TO be quite magnetic to take
possesslon OF me. travelled slowly In
forming my judgment OF Cluyerius, but
must say that while never expressed any
opinion one way or the other, found my
self gradually drifting TO the conviction
that Cluverius was not murderer.
Reporter: Your study and management
OF the case must have given you much
anxiety
DR.. Hatcher: As to the question OF my
personal feelings, that possesses no interest
for the public, and on that VIII not speak.
may say, however, that from many quar-
ters came assurances OF sympathy for me
in having TO go IN murderer's cell, aud
in having before me the prospect OF accom-
pauying the doomed man to the gallows.
These were merely physical and sensa-
tiCnal aspects OF the case. and OF course az
the first recoiled from them. But II took
me but a very little while 10 get beyond
those things; very soon other aud efar
grayer questions absorbed me. What 10 do
and how TO do IL so as 10 be OF real Chris
tian service to the helpless object Of my
charge were barassing aud benumbing pro-
blems. At one moment | faced the posi-.
bility Of his guilt and feared that he would
brave death without a confession; at an
other | wondered whether he might not
defer his confession until brought TO the
scafiold and then make II when IL would
he wrong in rs motive and worthless IN H.
effect; at another, and indeed very often,
| suffered the agonies OF a dreadful appre.
hensi0n lest, after all, being an innocent
man, he might die the victim of the law.
mistake. IL he had 10 die knew II wai
better for him TO be innocent than guilty,
but that was quite different matter from
my having TO deal with q man ~ a muir.
derer whose hands might be free from
blood. II thousands OF people who never
saw him, yet night after night tossed In
sleepless excitement and anxiety on his ac-
count, how think you 1t must have been
with me. who in no small sense cirfIed
upon my heart the burden OF hls fate,
WAS HE PREPARED TO DIE.
Reporter: DO you think, Doctor, that the
prisoBer was prepared for Heaven
DR.. Hatcher: That Is question too SOL
emn and profound for me 10 touch. be-
lieye In the immortality OF the soul and the
reality and glory OF the heavenly state. /
believe In the eternal happiness OF the
righteous and In the sufiiciency Of the blood
OF Christ TO save all who come 20 God by
Him, but when am called on 10 say whe-
ther this man or that has been saved feel
that | am not appointed 10 settle such q
. - -.
with fIlppant confidence about the salvation
OF a man who dies under the penalty OF hu.
man law. The cause OF religion has been
put 10 shame by the sentimental way In
which many victims OF the gallows have
been triump pbantly shouted 10 Heaven by
sympathetic ministers. On this question 7
choose 10 be silent and leave the result to
that God into whose presence the prisoney's
spirit has gone.
Reporter: Did he often talk OF his rell-
gious creed and hopey
DR.. Hatcher: Yes, he talked; not very
freely, and never with one symptom OF
cant or wbimperng sentiment. His ex-
pressed belief In divine thing. was clear,
reyerebtiaI, and outspoken.
Reporter: What did be believer
Or. Hatcher: He said more than once
that he fully accepted the Scriptures a. the
Word Of God, and hung his hopes upon
is promises. lie was reared under Chris.
tian influences, and his mind was evidently
impregnated with Christian doct.fnes. He
sald that his hope rested upon the merits
Of another. You know that he professed
conversion when he was fifteen years OF
age and united with the church. lie never
affected much deyOuiness In my presence,
and | cannot say that he was specially
pious. have heard that his Christian
walk was not very consistent, though his
church, up 10 the time OF bis srrest had
the fullest confidence iu his religious cha
raeter.
RELIGIOUS CONDITION,
Reporter: Did be seem 10 have any
trouble about his religious condiiiont
DR.. Hatcher: Sometimes be did. lie had
one staggering doubt. He said that the pro.
misses Of God 10 hear prayer were very
many and full, and that he thought be had
pleaded those promises faithfully for de-
hyeranee from his cruel fate. He had
hanging on the wall OF bis cell a number Of
placards on which were printed various
scripture promises. One day while we
were talking on this subject he arose
rather neryousIy and went 10 the wall
and uncovered the promise IN Matthew
XVIII, 10 and 20, and said: "iIow
Is this, Doctori There II the promise
that God will hear the prayer OF two or
three. know that many more than that
have been pleading for me. and vet no an
swer seems 10 come" The act BETRAYED
intense feeling and painful doubt. gave